Harpal
A Hindu name meaning "nurturing lion" or "brave protector".
Name Census estimates that about 13 living Americans carry the first name Harpal. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Harpal today is around 35 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Harpal births was 1989 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Harpal. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Harpal. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
13
~ 1 in 26,365,718 Americans
Peak year
1989
8 babies that year
Average age
35
years old
1991 SSA rank
#8,684
Tracked since 1989
Popularity
Harpal: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Harpal from the 1980s through to the 1990s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 8 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Harpal remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Harpal by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Harpal during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Harpals live
Origin
Meaning and history of Harpal
Harpal is a masculine given name of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit words "har" meaning "lord" and "pal" meaning "protector" or "nurturer." The name is commonly found among the Sikh and Hindu communities of the Indian subcontinent.
The earliest known references to the name Harpal can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, such as the Vedas and the Puranas, which are considered among the most sacred texts in Hinduism. These texts often mention characters or deities with names that incorporate the elements "har" or "pal," reflecting the reverence for divine protection and nurturing.
One of the earliest recorded historical figures bearing the name Harpal was Harpal, a general and companion of Alexander the Great. He was appointed as the satrap (governor) of the region of Punjab and the Indus Valley in 325 BCE, after Alexander's conquest of the region. Harpal's rule was short-lived, as he rebelled against the Macedonian authority and was eventually defeated and killed.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Harpal. One such figure was Harpal Singh Tundilat (1892-1982), a prominent Sikh political leader and freedom fighter from Punjab, who actively participated in India's struggle for independence from British rule.
Another famous Harpal was Harpal Singh Bedi (1902-1983), an Indian field hockey player who represented the British Indian team at the 1928 and 1932 Summer Olympics. He was part of the team that won the gold medal in 1928 and the silver medal in 1932.
In more recent times, Harpal Singh Brar (born 1939) is a retired Indian Army officer who served as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from 1990 to 1992. He played a significant role in the Indian military's operations during the Sri Lankan Civil War.
Harpal Tiwana (born 1957) is a Canadian businessman and philanthropist of Indian descent. He is the founder and CEO of the Tiwana Group of Companies and has been actively involved in various charitable initiatives, particularly in the field of education.
While the name Harpal has its roots in ancient Indian traditions and scriptures, it has transcended cultural boundaries and gained recognition across various societies and regions, reflecting the diverse cultural heritage and historical significance associated with this name.
People
Harpal + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Harpal as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Harpal: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Harpal?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 13 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Harpal going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 26,365,718 US residents.
Is Harpal a common name?
We classify Harpal as "Very Rare". It ranks above 33.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 13 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Harpal most popular?
The single biggest year for Harpal was 1989, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Harpal is about 35 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Harpal a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Harpal in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.